All Fixed-Wing news – Page 15
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News
Fuelled TalonA carried aloft as first Stratolaunch hypersonic flight approaches
Following a successful taxi test of its two-aircraft hypersonic flight system, California start-up Stratolaunch has carried a fully-fuelled TalonA hypersonic vehicle aloft under the company’s jet-powered Roc mother ship, a prerequisite for TalonA’s first self-powered flight.
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Boeing no longer competing to build USAF’s new ‘Doomsday jet’
The withdrawal of Boeing from the contest to build a new airborne command centre capable of managing a nuclear exchange leaves Sierra Nevada Corporation as the only bidder to replace the current Boeing E-4B Nightwatch.
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South Korea approved for $271m purchase of F-35 armaments
Seoul has requested to purchase a suite of air and ground attack munitions for its F-35 fighter fleet, including AMRAAM missiles, JDAM bombs, Paveway II laser-guided bombs and Small Diameter Bomb glide munitions, valued at $271 million by US arms regulators.
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Analysis
Which types retired in our latest World Air Forces review?
We detail some of the most notable national fleet retirements recorded in the 12 months since we published our last World Air Forces directory at the end of 2022.
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News
Germany maintains interest in MAWS despite latest P-8A buy, says naval avation chief
Germany’s collaboration with France on future maritime patrol initiatives has “not come to an end”, the head of its naval aviation branch insists, despite Berlin recently increasing its commitment for Boeing P-8A Poseidon submarine-hunting aircraft.
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News
Royal Air Force Poseidon fleet to get BAE’s Sting Ray torpedo
The UK Royal Air Force’s maritime patrol aircraft fleet is to gain a new anti-submarine/anti-surface strike capability, in the guise of BAE Systems’ Sting Ray Mod 1 lightweight torpedo.
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News
Italian air force receives first upgraded P180 Avanti II+ from Piaggio
Piaggio Aerospace has delivered its first P180 twin-turboprop to have been brought to an enhanced Avanti II+ standard for the Italian air force. Announcing the development on 30 November, the Italian airframer said it had completed upgrade, flight-test and certification activities on the new standard, which will be applied to ...
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News
Swiss air force resumes PC-21 operations following landing mishap
The Swiss air force resumed operations with its Pilatus PC-21 trainers on 30 November, following a brief suspension of activities imposed after a non-fatal accident involving the advanced turboprop.
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Analysis
2024 World Air Forces directory: how major conflicts impacted global fleet
Air forces are maintaining a high operational tempo, including performing combat duties in Europe and the Middle East. Our annual review details the global military fleet and nations’ procurement plans.
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News
Berlin approves funding for Eurofighter SEAD-variant development
The German air force’s electronic warfare transition has edged a step closer, after Berlin’s budget committee approved plans to modify 15 Eurofighters into an electronic combat configuration.
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News
Pratt & Whitney wins sole-source contract for F-35 engine upgrade
Although the Pentagon had already declared its intent to advance the Engine Core Upgrade programme for the F135 engine, the sole-source contract announcement solidifies Pratt & Whitney’s position as the F-35 propulsion supplier for another decade.
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News
Embraer, SAMI pitch C-390 final assembly to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s SAMI and Embraer have joined forces to pitch the Brazilian airframer’s C-390 transport to Riyadh, including the potential for local assembly and support.
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News
Pentagon invests $3.7m in composites manufacturer Qarbon Aerospace
The contract with Texas-based Qarbon Aerospace will support the design and manufacture of advanced lightweight continuous fibre thermoplastic composite structures intended for national defence aviation applications.
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News
Elbit’s DIRCM system to protect Canadian A330 tankers
Canada’s future fleet of Airbus Defence & Space A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTTs) will be equipped with self-protection equipment from Elbit Systems.
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News
Embraer delivers Brazil’s last modernised E-99M AEW&C aircraft
Brazil’s air force has received its final modernised E-99M/ERJ-145 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft from Embraer.
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News
US Navy hopes to restore crashed Hawaii P-8 to flight status
Salvage operations are under way in Hawaii following the crash of a Boeing P-8 maritime patrol jet, with the US Navy optimistic that it can recover the aircraft and restore it to flight status.
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News
US Navy prepares for recovery of crashed P-8A in Hawaii
The US Navy is preparing for the recovery of a Boeing P-8A Poseidon that crashed into the sea while attempting to land at a military base in Hawaii.
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News
Stratolaunch completes fuelled taxi test ahead of first hypersonic flight
The California start-up completed a taxi test of its two-aircraft captive carry hypersonic flight system, for the first time loaded with live propellant, as the company moves towards its first hypersonic flight before year’s end.
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News
Auto’Mate in-flight refuelling tests keep Airbus on top in tanker technology
Airbus has moved closer to commercialising a fully automated in-flight refuelling system following a series of successful test flights in southern Spain that saw a swarm of modified target drones flying in close formation, with their positions controlled by a tanker aircraft.
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News
Pentagon orders AC-130J strike in Iraq
The lethal action follows other strikes in Syria, which Washington says it ordered against Iranian-affiliated groups in response to aggression against American ground and naval forces in the region.